Islam is part of European history and culture, not an outsider, the former Portuguese minister said.

“The glorious history of Europe … I hope that it can be understood and that we not only have good relations with Islam, but we can really understand that it is part of European history and culture … in the Balkans, in Spain and elsewhere, and now and now. in many European cities with large populations, ”Bruno Makaes, who was Minister for Europe in the Portuguese government from 2013 to 2015, told Anadolu agency outside the Antalya Diplomatic Forum.

“So it’s not a foreign religion, it’s a part of us, and it can help bring some diversity and vitality back to Europe. We need it. “

Considered the fastest growing religion in Europe, Islam has been present on the continent since the 8th century. Muslims founded an outstanding civilization in Spain and then spread to Southeast Europe.

Many regions have experienced massacres, expulsions and violent transformation of Muslims, but elements of their civilization and culture, such as architecture, food, music and language, have survived.

Asked about controversial statements by French President Emmanuel Macron about Islam, Macaez, currently a senior adviser to Flint Global, said: “Politicians should not decide whether religions are in crisis or not, it depends on the fate of each of them. religion. “”

Macron last year accused French Muslims of “separatism” and called Islam “a religion in crisis.” He also defended blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Of the growing Islamophobia in Europe, Makaez said “yes, this is a big problem” and “very disturbing” since it is not limited to France, and pointed to racism and hatred of minorities in countries such as Austria.

“In Austria, the idea was to pass a law against political Islam, and no one knows exactly what political Islam means in practice,” he said. “I am concerned that this is not limited to isolated cases, but sometimes comes from the politicians themselves.”

– Transatlantic relations

When US President Joe Biden recently visited Europe, Macaez said that US-EU relations are “much better” now than they were under former President Donald Trump.

“It’s not surprising,” he said, adding that “they get along pretty well.”

He added that after George W. Bush, Biden seems to be “the one who values ​​Europe and the EU the most.”

According to Macaez, former US presidents, including Barack Obama, “had doubts about Europe.”

“There are difficult questions, but the mood is:“ We have difficult problems, but we have a good mood, ”he said.

But Europe wants to be “more autonomous in capacity building,” he said.

“Trade and technological issues need to be resolved. There are slightly different approaches to China. Of course, there are political issues, but the atmosphere is very good, ”he said.

– Relations between Turkey and the United States

On the future of relations between Turkey and the United States after the recent personal meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Biden at the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14, Makaez said: “Surprisingly better than expected.”

“I think the first sign was the peace process in Afghanistan and Turkey’s intervention … The US seems to be very happy about that. Now this meeting has gone well, too, ”he said.

“Biden probably understands that Turkey is important. The US is in deep confrontation with China and Russia, and it is important that Turkey is on their side, or at least Washington has an idea that the US should not push Turkey towards Russia and China.

Commenting on the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, a gathering of political leaders, diplomats, opinion leaders and academics, he said he was impressed by the “geographic expansion” of the forum from Africa and Latin America to the Middle East and Central Asia.

“Turkey is now very open to the world, not just Europe, which is a sign of a new Turkey,” he said.